The Myth Behind the Constellation Carina

Carina, “The Keel”, was part of a much larger constellation known as Argo Navis, the ship Argo. Argo was the vessel that Jason and the Argonauts sailed on during their quest for the Golden Fleece (see Aries.) In the mid-eighteenth century French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de La Caille divided this super constellation into three parts; Carina, Puppis and Vela. He also created a fourth constellation, Pyxis, using stars from part of this vast group.